Culvert.



T. L. C VAIL.

CULVERT.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 31, 1913.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

WKAM. IZLC, vazL,

S Horne THOMAS LENINGTON GURTISVAIL, OF GAIDSDEN, ALABAMA.

CULVEET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. October 31, 1913. Serial No. 798,466.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS LENINGTON CURTISVain, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gadsden, in the countyof Etowah and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Culverts, 0t which'the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in culverts and has particularreference to a culvert provided with novel means for connecting theadjacent edges of the part or parts thereof.

An important object ofthisinvention is to provide means whereby theadjacent longitudinal edges of the part or parts of the culvert may bequickly and easily assembled, and locked together in a manner wherebythey are securely held against working loose or accidental separation,while the same are capable of beingdisconnected by the proper meanswithout in ury thereto.

A further object of the invention'is to provide a connecting means ofthe above mentioned character, which will instead of weakening theculvert, lend to the same strength and rigidity. I

A further object of my invention is to provide means of the abovementioned character, which are simple in construction, durable andinexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame, Figure 1 is a 4 side elevation of a culvert embodying myinvention, Fig. 2 is a, fragmentary central longitudinal sectional viewthrough the same, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line3-3 of Fig. 1, Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation of the culvert,showing the adjacent edges thereof before being assembled,- and, Fig. 5is a fragmentary enlarged perspective View of the culvert, showing theadjacent edges assembled and certain of the locking tongues bent backinto locking position.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, 1 have shown my improved culvertaspreferably formed of twin longitudinal culvert sections 10 and 11,

which are preferably transversely corrugated, as shown. Each of the twinculvert Patented Aug. 10,1915.

culvert section 10 are arranged in registration with theholding tongues12 of the 0111-;

vert section '11. I

, When the culvert section 10 and ll-are assembled, the holding tongues12 of tile culvert sections 10 and 11 form, two sets of the same,extending in opposite directions. All of these holding tongues extendinteriorly of the culvert, and engage th inner surfaces of the culvertsections 10, and 11, holding one section against inward movement withrelation to each other. The locking tongues 13 of the culvert sections10 and 11 form two sets of the same, which extend in opposite directionsand are arranged exteriorly of the culvert to engage the outer surfacesof the culvert sections. I

The numeral 15 designates a suitably stifi locking rod, which, beforethe locking tongues are bent back upon themselves, is placed inengagement with the same. The two sets of locking tongues are then bentaround the locking rod 15 and back upon themselves, to eirtend inopposite directions, as more clearly illustrated in Fig, 5. It is thusseen thatthe locking tongues 13, while remaining bent back, willsecurely pivotally connect the culvert sections together, preventingtheir improper separation, while allowing them being separated when thelocking tongues are straightened Ollt. The

holding tongues 12 cooperate with t-he locking tongues 13 to preventperceptible lateral movement of the culvert sections 10 and 11, withrelation to each other. While Irhave shown my culvert as formed in twotwin nect the edges of a culvert formed'in onesection.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred] example of the same, and thatvarious changesin the shape,

no size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit,

of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having descnbed my invention,I claim A culvert formed in two separablelongitudinal sections, each culvert section being provided upon its twolongitudinal edges with spaced holding and locking tongues ofsubstantial length, the holding tongues {of the assembled culvertsections being arranged inwardly of the culvert section in alternaterelation and extending in opposite directions to engage with the innersurfaces,

thereof for stiffening the same, and longitudinal rods arrangedexteriorly of and adjacent the pairs of longitudinal edges of theculvert sections with the loclting tongues in mit of the separation ofthe culvert sections.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS LEMKGTON CURTIS VAIL. 1

\Vitnesses: l

' W. B. FORD,

J. R. LISTER.

